Chrysler essentially created the minivan market in 1984 with its first-generation Dodge Caravan and Plymouth Voyager. That front-drive, four-cylinder-only breadbox on wheels delivered comfortable upright seating, plus room for the whole family and their trappings. Buyers swarmed to this new phenomenon, which would soon dethrone the station wagon as the coach of choice in suburbia.

As Caravan and Voyager sales soared, other manufacturers began working on their own minivans to capture a piece of this lucrative pie. Ford rolled out its Aerostar in 1985 as an '86 model, offering an affordable rear-drive alternative with flexible seating and a V-6 engine. Although it grew increasingly powerful and luxurious, the truck-platform-based Aerostar never attained the enviable popularity (or ride comfort) that the car-platform Chrysler minivans flaunted.The new-for-'95 Windstar, the Aerostar's scheduled replacement, was designed to improve on every element of the Chryslers. (Ironically, when word trickled out that the Aerostar would be replaced, there was such a consumer uproar that Ford was persuaded to continue its production.) Reading down the list of specs comparing the Windstar to the '95 Caravan, it's as if Ford engineers were dead-set on winning a game of one-upmanship; almost every measurement from wheelbase to legroom shows the Windstar to be slightly ahead.

This fresh new design drew buyers into Ford dealerships by the minivan-load, urged on by a strong marketing campaign. Allured by this new champion of moms and light haulers, we ordered a long-term Windstar LX to subject it to a tough year of shuttling test gear, rambunctious grade schoolers, and suit-clad execs. The base price for our teal-colored LX rang in at $23,760, which included a 3.8-liter/155-horsepower V-6, four-speed automatic transmission, four-wheel anti-lock brakes, air conditioning, power locks and windows, seven-passenger seating, and aluminum wheels.To improve comfort, convenience, and appearance we chose several options starting with the $1830 Preferred Equipment Package 477B, which added quad bucket seats, privacy glass, two-tone paint, a luggage rack, rear window defrost, and floor mats. We also added an anti-theft system with keyless entry, $340; a convenient floor console, $140; a CD player, $170; the JBL premium audio option, $510; the trailer-towing package, $375; high-capacity air conditioning, $465; and compliant air suspension, $290. When the long list was tallied, factoring the package savings and miscellaneous fees, the total came to $27,960 for a very well-equipped minivan.

Our long-term Windstar soon established a reputation among staffers as being a great choice for taking the family on long drives. Journeys to the local mountains, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Phoenix, and Crater Lake, Oregon, proved the van's merits of spacious accommodations and large fuel capacity. With average highway mileage hovering around 20 mpg, more than 400 miles could comfortably pass between refilling the 25-gallon fuel tank.Passengers appreciated the comfortable captain's chairs in the front and midship positions. The rear air-conditioning outlet and controls kept the kids comfortable on summer drives through scorpion-scorching deserts. On the other hand, the rear radio controls proved to be a source of annoyance as young rear riders would often search the available frequencies for nothing in particular. The parents among us were overjoyed to discover that these controls could be deactivated easily.